Will the Government Ditch Ireland’s Constitution?

Dana Rosemary Scallon, Independent Connacht/Ulster MEP speaking from Strasbourg has called on Foreign Minister Brian Cowan to clearly state the Governments and Ireland’s position on the Convention document on the future of Europe.

Dana said that it was no longer possible that the government remain silent on the future directions of a constitutional Europe. ‘It is time,’ says Dana, ‘that our government and Irish political representatives in Europe clearly state the direction they see Europe is going in. To remain silent at this time will allow those seeking a political Europe with an EU constitution to set the pace. Ireland will then be reduced to accepting, not influencing, what has already been agreed.’

Dana continued, ‘I am deeply concerned that instead of clearly stating Ireland’s position with regard to an EU constitution and the legal status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights Foreign Minister Brian Cowan side-steps the entire issue.’

‘Already Mr. Giscard d’Estaing, president of the Convention on the Future of Europe, has clearly stated his desire for a European constitution and has also removed the option of a democratic EU wide referendum for the citizens of the member states.’ ‘I welcome the fact that accession countries will also play a part in determining the outcome of a final convention document. However, It is time for clarity and leadership if Ireland is to maintain its position as a sovereign constitutional nation at the heart of the Europe. The Irish people deserve to know where their political leaders are taking them and that those same political leaders will uphold our Irish constitution and sovereignty. The Irish people also deserve to know if the government intends to call for and support a Europe of independent sovereign nations or it intends to ditch our Constitution and pursue a political Europe agenda.

The ‘building blocks’ for an EU constitution are being finalised between now and January 2003’, concluded Dana.